Chapter 5 - THE NIGHT THE GLASS SHATTEREDThe attack came on a Friday.
Snow covered the estate.
Caprice had stayed late because Diamond was experiencing another nerve-pain attack.
They sat in the study.
Firelight moved across the walls.
Caprice read a battered paperback.
Diamond worked on his laptop.
Neither spoke.
The silence between them had become comfortable.
Then—
CRACK.
A bullet struck the window.
Caprice dropped the book.
Diamond's hand slammed a hidden button beneath the desk.
The alarm exploded through the house.
"Get down!"
She hit the floor.
A second bullet struck the glass.
Diamond moved his wheelchair backward.
"They bypassed the gate."
"Who?"
"Costa's men."
Another impact.
Diamond opened a concealed compartment inside the bookcase.
A handgun appeared in his hand.
Caprice stared.
"Go to the panic room."
"No."
"Caprice."
"Where's Levi?"
"Two minutes."
The door shook.
Diamond looked at her.
"Code 4920."
"I said no."
"Get inside."
"You can't move fast enough."
His jaw tightened.
"I'll hold them."
She stared at him.
He couldn't run.
Couldn't hide.
If the door opened, he would have only seconds.
Caprice looked at the panic-room entrance.
Then at Diamond.
"No."
"Caprice!"
"I'm not leaving you."
The door exploded inward.
Two armed men entered.
Diamond fired.
Three shots.
One attacker fell.
The second dove behind the sofa.
Bullets tore through the desk.
Caprice crawled beside Diamond's wheelchair.
"Lean forward."
He obeyed instinctively.
She grabbed his chair.
Another shot.
Wood exploded above them.
Diamond fired again.
The attacker fell.
Then silence.
Levi entered with armed men.
"Room clear!"
But Diamond wasn't looking at him.
He was looking at Caprice.
Blood ran from a small cut on her cheek.
She was shaking.
He reached toward her.
"Look at me."
She did.
"Why didn't you go?"
Caprice wiped dust from her face.
"I told you."
Her voice trembled.
"I wasn't leaving."
Diamond stared.
Something inside him broke open.
He had spent years believing survival meant pushing everyone away.
Caprice had just proven the opposite.
Sometimes survival meant having someone willing to stay.
The attack was cleaned up within an hour.
Bodies disappeared.
Glass was replaced.
Weapons were removed.
Blood was scrubbed from the carpet.
Caprice sat in the hallway wrapped in a blanket.
Levi approached.
"You saved him."
She shook her head.
"He saved me."
"Go home."
"No."
"Caprice."
"He hasn't slept."
Levi looked at her.
She continued.
"And his pain is coming back."
Levi sighed.
"You really don't understand when to leave."
"No."
She stood.
"I don't."
Then she walked into Diamond's room.
He looked exhausted.
"Levi told you to leave."
"Levi doesn't sign my paycheck."
She moved behind his wheelchair.
"Come on."
Diamond didn't argue.
That alone told her how badly he was hurting.
She helped him into bed.
Then wiped the dust from his face.
Diamond caught her wrist.
"You could have died."
"So could you."
"I told you to run."
"I know."
"Why didn't you?"
Caprice looked into his eyes.
"Because everyone in my life walked away when things became difficult."
She paused.
"My father. Banks. Doctors."
Her voice softened.
"Everyone runs."
She leaned closer.
"I don't."
Diamond stared at her.
Then touched her cheek.
"I am the last thing you need."
"Stop deciding what I need."
She moved closer.
"I survived poverty."
Another inch.
"I survived watching my mother disappear."
Another.
"I can survive a few bullets."
Then she kissed him.
Diamond froze.
For one heartbeat, the king did not exist.
Only the man remained.
His hand moved into her hair.
He pulled her closer.
Caprice wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
When they finally separated, their foreheads touched.
Diamond whispered one word.
"Stay."
May you like
Caprice smiled.
"I'm right here."
